Fofana's strong start
It was on Wednesday that Wesley Fofana officially became a Chelsea player – and that afternoon he undertook his first training session at Cobham following his £70million move from Leicester City. There was another on Thursday and one more on Friday prior to the visit of West Ham United. That's all Fofana needed to convince Thomas Tuchel that he was ready to start.
"We gave a lot of thought into whether we should start him," Tuchel explained ahead of kick-off. "There were reasons for not doing it but in the end he seemed to be a cool guy and fine with it. He is fit and we can use his wildness in a back three and his spirit and first contact in the box for defending crosses and set pieces."
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Fofana began on the right of the Chelsea defence. On his inside was the experience of Thiago Silva, on his outside at right wing-back the quality of Reece James. There are few more capable and reliable players to make a debut alongside.
The Frenchman's first successful challenge – which saw him take the ball away from Michail Antonio – brought a cheer from those inside Stamford Bridge. For the remainder of the opening period, Fofana's main role was to circulate possession and try to help find a way through the West Ham defence.
It was much of the same for the second period – and after West Ham took the lead. Fofana could do little about the Irons' goal as he ended up in the pile of players in the back of the net after Edouard Mendy failed to punch the ball clear and Antonio eventually prodded home from close range.
There were occasions when Fofana could have moved the ball more swiftly as Chelsea searched for a route back into the game. That authority and decisiveness will come in time. The important thing for the Frenchman and the Blues was they were able to come away with a victory. And that's eventually what happened.
Ben Chilwell equalised with an exquisite finish from close range and Kai Havertz then planted a volley beyond Lukasz Fabianski with two minutes to spare. The VAR drama that followed created the game's biggest talking point but that would not have mattered to Fofana, whose first outing in Chelsea colours was a winning one.
After the full-time whistle had been blown and the customary post-match handshakes exchanged with unhappy West Ham players, Fofana made his way around the Stamford Bridge pitch and applauded those Chelsea fans still inside the stadium. Some even serenaded him with the chant usually reserved for Thiago Silva. You doubt the Brazilian master will have minded.
Changes going forward
With neither Mason Mount nor Kai Havertz scoring or creating a goal in Chelsea's opening five matches of the campaign, it was no great surprise to see both drop to the substitutes' bench against West Ham. What was unexpected was that Tuchel opted for a front two of Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic.
It was hoped the duo's close control in tight spaces and acceleration would disrupt the Iron's centre-backs, that they wouldn't be fleet-footed enough to stay in contact when the ball was at the feet of the American or the England international. Unfortunately, that didn't prove to be the case.
Tuchel gave the experiment time, there was an hour on the clock when he made changes. Mason Mount and Armando Broja came first. Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz followed 12 minutes later. All had an impact.
Broja offered Chelsea a penalty-area threat they had lacked; he was unfortunate that not more came from an instinctive poke toward goal when Kurt Zouma was caught sleeping. Havertz also looked sharp and darted toward the six-yard box in an effort to make contact with crosses.
It was Chilwell's whose influence was greatest, however. It's not been an easy start to the campaign for the England international as he continues his comeback from the knee ligament injury sustained last November. He started the opening fixture of the season and won what proved the decisive penalty at Goodison Park against Everton. But Marc Cucurella's signing saw Chilwell benched.
He's had to be patient but showcased against West Ham his attacking nous and finishing ability remain undiminished – and it impressed summer signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was seen snapping his fingers together in the crowd after the wing-back pulled Chelsea level.
But Chilwell wasn't done and it was his low cross that was fired in by Havertz to secure victory. Eighteen minutes, one goal, one assist. Yet Tuchel still believes there is more to come from Chilwell. "He can feel fitter and be fitter if he is playing in consecutive Premier League matches," the Chelsea head coach explained.
"In my opinion, he lacks rhythm and a bit of feeling from the game. This is what I see in training. The player always thinks he is ready, and I think there are some things still missing. He started for us against Everton, came on against Southampton today, and had a huge impact. This is what we want from him.
"In my view, the wing-back position is his best position: he gives energy, runs, and deliveries. So I am very happy because these things need to happen more than any talk or session with me. He must feel it and experience being decisive back on the pitch."
With the forthcoming schedule relentless, Chilwell will get further opportunities. Broja too. And both should start on Tuesday evening when Chelsea begin their Champions League group stage campaign against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
Mendy debate continues
The last few months have not been easy for Edouard Mendy. His form has faltered and high-profile mistakes have been made. Still, he continues as Chelsea's No. 1 goalkeeper and that isn't likely to change any time soon, despite Kepa Arrizabalaga being in situ as the club's No. 2.
"I think at the moment he is a bit unlucky in what he is doing," said Tuchel. "In training, he is fantastic. And he is, in general, a very calm and self-reflective guy who is aware that he lacks a little bit of luck at the moment.
"Things do not go in his favour. If he has maybe a situation where his action isn't 100% clear, he gets punished for it massively. He is just in this moment, and it feels like it's not so much his fault. I have the feeling because he tries everything, he is very calm and focused. We will keep on supporting him."
Did Mendy get away with another error – or two – against West Ham? That's a matter of opinion. He certainly could've been more commanding in the build-up to the Irons' opener and whether Jarrod Bowen's dangling leg really was enough for the Irons' late leveller to be chalked off by VAR is questionable.
The only certainty is Mendy has to improve. During his first 18 months at the club, he was outstanding. And in truth, his shot-stopping remains strong. It's the other facets of his game that need to get back to the levels displayed following his move from Rennes. Otherwise, he will only come under more scrutiny.
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